Fumigation is the process of tenting a property and introducing a chemical called sulfuryl fluoride to eliminate termites, cockroaches and rodents.
Safeguarding Public Health and California’s Economy
Professional fumigation is the only proven way to eliminate drywood termites and wood destroying beetles that cause damage to millions of California homes and buildings. It is also the only 100% effective way to eradicate bedbugs, cockroaches and other pests from a family’s home. But a proposal from the Department of Pesticide Regulation — that includes longer aeration times and maintaining a 5-foot buffer zone — would severely restrict or eliminate professional fumigation. This puts vulnerable populations at risk, will force higher rents and keep them from their homes longer. It will threaten a wide ranges of jobs — from real estate offices to union workers at California’s major ports. It will cost the state’s consumers an estimated $20-million.
WHAT
WHERE
Throughout California – especially in Southern California, where an estimated 50% of all structures contain drywood termites.
Fumigation is critical for many buildings and products: Homes, Apartments, Condos, Senior Homes, Homeless Shelters, Rehab Centers, Disadvantaged Communities, Affordable Housing, Foreign Trade, Food Trucks, Teslas
WHEN
During the escrow process, termite inspections are required for many loans; this often results in the need for fumigation as a condition for a loan.
When residents of buildings – especially low-income housing – are suffering from bed bugs, cockroaches and rodents.
When machinery, food and other products are imported or exported from California (a condition of trade).
WHY
Termites cause $300 Million in damage each year in California.
In many real estate transactions California law requires fumigations to protect consumers.
Because termite infestations are hidden behind walls, fumigation is the only treatment able to eradicate 100% of them.
FUMIGATION PROCESS
State-licensed professional pest control operators are the only ones able to fumigate.
The process currently takes 3 days, which allows for tenting, fumigating, aeration and removal of tents once air has been tested to ensure safety before certification of re-entry.
The process requires tenants and residents vacate a property; this can result in inconvenience and costs to them.
PROTECTING SOUND SCIENCE
California’s Department of Pesticide Regulation approach to regulating Sulfuryl fluoride fails to apply sound science and doesn’t recognize that data gaps have been filled.
DPR PROPOSAL
DPR should be using the best model to estimate exposures to SF. The model is the PBPK model, which has been recognized around the world.
DPR has proposed a novel and inappropriate “mode of action” in which it is assumed that SF moves directly through the nose to the brain. While this is theoretically possible in rats, humans are fundamentally different anatomically. This mode of action is inappropriate.
Sometimes regulators add an “uncertainty” factor if some studies haven’t been submitted. The data package on SF is complete and the data gaps have been filled. There is not justification for adding an additional uncertainty factor, which would reduce the regulatory number – fold lower.
Most importantly, by not considering the benefits of current practices in the risk-benefit analysis, DPR is ignoring the serious unintended consequences its proposal will have on the state’s economy and estimated 40-million residents.